Mutual Fund Returns — How to Calculate & Interpret
What is NAV in mutual funds?+
NAV (Net Asset Value) is the per-unit market value of a mutual fund. It is calculated as: NAV = (Total Fund Assets – Liabilities) ÷ Total Units Outstanding. NAV is published daily by AMCs after market close. When you invest ₹10,000 in a fund at NAV ₹25, you get 400 units. When the NAV rises to ₹45, your investment is worth 400 × ₹45 = ₹18,000. NAV changes daily based on the market value of the fund's underlying securities.
What is CAGR vs absolute return?+
Absolute Return measures total percentage gain without accounting for time: (Current Value – Invested Amount) ÷ Invested Amount × 100. A 50% absolute return over 1 year is excellent; over 10 years it's poor. CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) normalises returns per year: CAGR = [(Current Value ÷ Invested Amount)^(1/years) – 1] × 100. Always compare mutual funds by CAGR for any period over 1 year. CAGR above 12% over 5+ years in India is considered excellent for equity funds.
What is a good CAGR for Indian mutual funds?+
Benchmark expectations for Indian mutual funds over 5+ years: Large-cap funds: 10–13% CAGR. Mid-cap funds: 13–18% CAGR. Small-cap funds: 15–20% CAGR (high volatility). Flexi/multi-cap: 12–16% CAGR. Debt funds: 6–8% CAGR. Liquid/overnight funds: 5–6% CAGR. Compare against the relevant index benchmark (Nifty 50 for large-cap, Nifty Midcap 150 for mid-cap) to assess if the fund is adding alpha over passive investing.
How do I check my mutual fund returns online?+
You can check your actual mutual fund returns through: (1) AMFI website (amfiindia.com) for current NAV of all funds. (2) Your AMC's app or website for account statement. (3) CAMS/KFintech portals for consolidated statement across all AMCs. (4) Your broker app (Zerodha, Groww, Paytm Money) for real-time portfolio value. (5) Annual Consolidated Account Statement (CAS) emailed by CDSL/NSDL. Use this calculator to understand what your returns mean in CAGR terms.